1st Blizzard

We had the first blizzard of the winter of 2011 overnight. The snow began around 1:30 and I lost power (and heat) at 5:45 pm. A giant branch snapped off and crashed down upon my roof at 8:30 pm (from the tree in Jean Marie's backyard) from the weight of all the snow. I read by candlelight ("Crazy '08" and July's National Geographic) in my big chair with Sabrino sleeping on my lap. I took lots of pictures. Then I did some drawing (a woman's profile, and a mountainside dream home), read "Green Lantern vs. Aliens" (DC/Dark Horse, 2000), and kept my fingers crossed for power & heat (to no avail) before going to bed at 11 pm.

I awoke at 3 am and put the stove on again for a half hour, and took more pictures while listening to my iPod. The sky was eerily bright even that late. Then it was back to sleep. A tree came crashing down up the hill (another loud gunshot of sound) as I dozed. I finally got out of bed at 9:30 am, when the sun was up enough to help the burner keep my apartment warm. It never got cold enough for Sabrino to want to join me under the covers, so that was good.

The plow guys came by at 11:30 and did a great job, so at 12:15 or so (after calling Ma to let her know all was well at this address - they only lost power for about 5 minutes!) I went out to shovel my steps clear, and clean off & move my car back to its proper spot in front of my door. I took more pictures, of the fallen rooftop tree limb and the rest of the aftermath, and when I finally went back indoors the power was back on! Sweet.

Game Over

Ski Valley is done (or at least my small part of it). I got to work yesterday after a ten-minute snow & ice scraping of my car, and the trailer was gone. Jaime was working on Unit 60 (the last of the cooperative owners), and Jim didn't even make it down because he was onto the next job. I read the latest issue of Wired magazine while I did my work for the day, and later Jim met me in K-Mart plaza to give me my final pay ($100).

Other notes from the day:

• Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls ice cream is very good!
• My cat rocks.
• There is nothing like Ragu with angel hair pasta & ground beef. Mmmm...
• I took down my a/c from the window. The apartment is noticeably warmer already.
• We are supposed to get nearly a foot of snow today! I thought it was only supposed to be a dusting.

Mountain Quest 11: Pratt Mountain

 

 

text later.

The Ocean (Finally)

After a short day at work at Ski Valley I headed down to Colt State Park in Bristol, RI. Since I haven't been to the beach yet in 2011 I decided I'd make the 30 mile drive south from work, finish my book ("After the Party") and walk around for awhile in the sea air.

 

 

 

Crazy Cat

My 15-year-old cat behaving like a spring kitten!

Mountain Quest 9B: North Pack Monadnock

I headed down the north slope of Pack Monadnock, and after a few minutes of confusion (this side of the hill isn't as well-marked as the south side), I found my way down the Wapack Trail. I found a very cool tree that looked like an upstretched hand and took a few goofy pictures until the only two people I saw for the rest of the day passed me in the opposite direction. The two guys had beards and muddy boots and they let me know that North Pack was deserted. Sweet!

The hike was long and leisurely, and I wore myself out quite nicely. When I got to the top of North Pack at 4:30 I beheld sweeping vistas all around me, and there wasn't a soul for miles. I celebrated by eating the Snickers bar I'd brought, and damn, if it didn't taste better than any candy bar I'd had in years. After taking in the view for a bit, taking some photos and standing on all three 'highlands', I decided that haste was required to make it back to my car before sundown. The hike back was fun, and I had Almanac Mountain and Abbie Barrett (her new EP kicks ass) on my iPod for musical accompaniment.

When I got back to the summit of Pack Monadnock it was devoid of humans and the sun was setting rather swiftly. So after getting some awesome pictures both at ground level and back atop the tower I opted to make my descent via the paved road instead of risking darkness on the trail, and having to navigate the cliffs near the base with just a penlight. It was a nice walk, if a bit awkward because of the angle my ankles were forced into. There was only one other car left in the lot at 6:30. I outlasted nearly everyone. What a day. I covered 7½ miles in 4½ hours, and every step was absolutely worth it. Except for the summit of the first peak I had two mountains to myself. I had plenty of water and food. The weather was perfect and the wide variety of scenery was sublime. I was on my own schedule with no boss but myself, and I accomplished something substantial and real. Today's adventure definitely ranks in my Top 5 Days of 2011, and I can't wait to find a way to top it in the weeks to come...

Mountain Quest 9A: Pack Monadnock

2290 feet. text later.

Mountain Quest: Wachusett 4

I was supposed to work in Seabrook today resetting a Staples, but there was no work info in my e-mail in-box, so I had an unplanned day off (score!). So I decided to climb yet another 'unblazed-by-me' trail on Mt. Wachusett.

I began my hike on what I thought was the Echo Lake Trail, but I set off down the wrong path. After some pleasant small talk with two beautiful women and their dog, and a quick converse with two helpful women further up the path at the Harrington Trail juncture, I turned around and wound up taking the Jack Frost Trail up the mountain. I crossed two streams, and then I came across yet another attractive woman who was making her way down a steep area. She indicated the quite-vertical slabs of rock over her shoulder as the direction I was to proceed, so I thanked her and scrambled up the side of the hill. What fun!

The rest of my ascent was via the familiar Mountain House Trail (Jack Frost doesn't like the summit, apparently). When I got to the top the place was packed. "Holy Tourist Season, Batman!". So I took a few pictures, buried my nose in "Havoc's Sword" for a few minutes, and ate my almonds and apple before I fled the crowds of gawkers. I went back down Mountain House to Jack Frost, but then I took the High Meadow Trail, and then ended the hike with the Echo Lake Trail (finally!). The lake itself was unimpressive, but it was a nice interlude (though there were more people with dogs, and even a pair of mountain bikers). Most of the day's hike was pretty solitary but I did pass a few couples in both directions, either with or without dogs. Miranda Lee Richards accompanied me on my iPod, and a mere two minutes from my car, the skies opened up and poured all over everyone else. A great day, and the people weren't too annoying (whattaya want on a dry cool Saturday?). Mission Accomplished.

Car Trouble

My tire finally gave out after months of shuddering and wobbling. I noticed it was flat at the job site, and so I drove it on the near-flat to fill my gas tank, put on the spare (donut) tire, and after a harrowing (yet thankfully uneventful) drive home, arranged for a new tire tomorrow afternoon when I get back down to Rhode Island (and there goes this week's entire $120).

BAH!!

I plan on replacing the passenger side tire the following week as well, so the car is balanced. *sigh*

Is it Really Time Off...

...if nothing happens in between?

I was lucky enough to be extended an invitation to do the rest of Phase III. The deal isn't quite as good (phone and gas are included in the base pay, instead of the way things were done the previous two times, each of the aforementioned being additional to the amount in the past), and it also requires 'clean-up' of Phase II, in which nothing had been done in the intervening 5 weeks since my contract was over, despite having left detailed notes.

So: I am very grateful to have the work (I even postponed my other job to do this), but it's not like the prime deals I enjoyed the first and second times around this particular block. The Big Bonus: working outdoors in a place I have grown to love during the best season of the year in New England!

Mountain Quest: Wachusett 3

Today I approached the mountain from the north, and slogged up the Bolton Pond Trail and then the Old Indian Trail. It took me about 80 minutes to hike up the super-muddy trail (which at times had actual running water hogging the path), which has many cool sights.

There is a loud and swift river running along the right hand side of the BPT, and the namesake Bolton Pond is a very cool place to stop at while the sun is over it. I got a few good photos there, and at Balance Rock, a famous two-stone marker where the trail splits into several routes. I crossed over several ski trails about halfway up the slope. It was sunny and humid, if a bit chilly, but I brought my sweatshirt (which I wound up donning for the descent).

On the way back down it took me about 70 minutes, including one point where I slipped and fell on my ass. As I have practiced over and over in my head, I reflexively dropped my iPod as I fell, and neither it, nor my camera (or my cell phone which I always forget is in my backpack) was harmed in any way. Mojave 3, Nick Drake and Miranda Lee Richards accompanied me musically on the way down. And i got a few cool pictures of the moon! It's a good thing to occasionally look over one's shoulder from time to time on a descent.

Today's was another great hike, proving that just because one climbs the same mountain several times, it does not mean that one cannot find new and interesting ways to enjoy said mountain. I've climbed three completely separate and distinct slopes of the mountain to date, and there is still at least one more worthwhile (West Side Trail to Semuhenna Trail) route in case I can't go further afield. What a day! Sweat-soaked (yet again), chilly and hungry, but as always, a great use of downtime...